Why spell-check programs suck

[elfs]

A real headline from Reuters this morning: Danube reaches peak in Balkans, dykes in danger. "Authorities warned there was still danger waterlogged dykes could collapse and wreak havoc across southeastern Europe." "It could cause dykes to leak or even break and our teams on the ground have to stay vigilant."

Oh, my, the images, the images!

Yes, I know, "dyke" is an acceptable, older spelling of "dike", but language convention seems to have reserved one spelling for levees and the other for lesbians. Don't get them confused.

Comments

[mundens.livejournal.com]

Yeah, as shastaw says, coming from a European heritage and living a UK Commonwealth country, I've never seen dyke (as in something to keep water out of land that is below sea level) spelled "dike" before. It's a Dutch word borrowed into the English language, like the reasonably common name "Dykstra".

However I also haven't seen bike written as byke, because it comes from "bi - cycle" so there's no original 'y' spelling.

[mothball-07.livejournal.com]

Lol.. I left out some context in my draconian editing to try to stick to the topic...

I'm a mostly-queer bisexual grrl, and tried on the term "byke" to describe myself, except it only works in writing, so I never use it. But, I wanted to get the plate for my motorcycle. It was denied as too similar to the "derogatory" dyke.

It came to mind because I'd been considering trying to fight the denial by using my manual as a reference and implying it was a European spelling, rather than the "close to derogatory term" they considered it. It would have required a lawyer and wasn't worth the fuss though. So, I started to write all that, then clipped it down as irrelevant. Almost. Oops. :)

Now I just go by PB&J Switch. (Poly, bi and Jewish.) ;)

[mundens.livejournal.com]

It's probably a good idea that you don't call yourself a "byke".

Over here the term "bike" when applied to a person is largely derogatory and used to describe someone who is, how shall I say.. "easy to ride" !

Unless of course you're trying to reclaim the word, like some have reclaimed the word "slut"

I've discovered recently I'm of a similar persuasion to yourself, except that I'm not actually Jewish, though I have "Jewish blood". :)

LOL...

[mothball-07.livejournal.com]

Good to know! I've always preferred the term dyke, but being bisexual, very few of my brethren agree. ;) I was looking for something that respected both perspectives, but 'byke' really never worked since it had to be explained.

These days I don't seem to need to explain myself very often, and PB&J switch is pretty comprehensive. ;)